Today’s Museum Monday spotlight is the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri. This is not only one of the best art museums in the country, you get the bonus of free admission year-round! The museum was built on the grounds of Oak Hall – the home of William Rockhill Nelson, publisher of the Kansas City Star. He donated the proceeds from his entire estate to purchase artwork for public enjoyment. Mary McAfee Atkins, a former schoolteacher and widow of a real estate developer, bequeathed $300,000 in 1911 to establish an art museum. The trustees of the two estates decided to combine and formed the current museum. It’s definitely a must-visit on any trip to Kansas City!
Collections
There are more than 40,000 art objects in the Nelson-Atkins’ extensive collection, including one of the top three Asian art collections in the world and exceptional Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works.
The American painting collection includes the largest collection open to the public of works by Thomas Hart Benton, who lived in Kansas City. Among this collection are paintings by Frederic Church, John Singleton Copley, Thomas Eakins, Winslow Homer, and John Singer Sargent.
The museum also boasts Contemporary art holdings of Pop, Minimalism, Conceptual art and variations of realism.
The grounds are filled with walking trails and a 22-acre sculpture park, including the famous Shuttlecocks on the lawn and the largest collection of monumental bronzes by Henry Moore in the United States.
Bloch Building
In 2007 Time magazine ranked the museum’s new Bloch Building number one on its list of “The 10 Best (New and Upcoming) Architectural Marvels,” which considered candidates from around the globe. The Bloch building houses the museum’s contemporary, African, photography, and special exhibitions galleries as well a café, the museum’s library, and a sculpture court.
Special Exhibitions
The museum holds many special exhibits throughout the year. A few that are currently on display are:
- Worldly Luxuries: Repetition in Renaissance Textiles (through June 14, 2020)
- Queen Nefertari: Eternal Egypt (through March 29, 2020)
- Creatures of the Night: Women in Paris from 1850-1900 (through March 22, 2020)
Some fantastic upcoming exhibits include:
- Encore Degas! Ballet, Movement, and Fashion (opening March 2020)
- Robert Blackburn & Modern American Printmaking (opening March 2020)
Note: Special exhibits require an additional paid ticket.
Tours
Multiple tours are offered to explore the collections further:
- Spotlight Tours are a discussion about art that “spotlights” a topic that speaks to issues of our day. (Offered at 1:30 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday)
- Collection Highlights tours focus on some of the most prominent works in the museum. (Offered at 1:15 & 2:30 Saturday and Sunday; 1:30 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; and 6:15 & 7:30 on Thursday)
- Special exhibition tours are also offered on select exhibits and times.
Events
In addition to world-class artwork, the Nelson-Atkins Museum holds many cultural festivals onsite:
- Chinese New Year – January 26, 2020
- Passport to India – April 19, 2020
- Juneteenth – June 6, 2020
- Kansas City’s Big Picnic – July 19, 2020
- Deaf Cultural Festival – September 19, 2020
- Native American Cultural Celebrations – September 27, 2020
- Day of the Dead – November 1, 2020
Bonus: When in Kansas City, stay at The Raphael, Autograph Collection by Marriott a luxury boutique hotel in Country Club Plaza
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
4525 Oak Street
Kansas City, MO 64111
